‘Materialists’ Is HBO Max’s Most-Watched Movie This Week

From cozy holiday classics to fresh theatrical hits, this week’s most-watched picks on HBO Max span family animation, action, horror, and a splash of romance. Below, you’ll find quick primers with who made each film, who’s in it, and what it’s about—perfect for deciding what to queue up next on Max.

‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’ (2012)

Timur Bekmambetov directs ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter’, adapted from Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel of the same name. Benjamin Walker plays Lincoln, with Dominic Cooper, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Rufus Sewell in supporting roles. The film blends alternate history with action-horror as its protagonist balances political life and secret nighttime missions. Produced by Tim Burton and others, it stages set-pieces that mix period detail with stylized creature combat.

‘The Wolfman’ (2010)

Directed by Joe Johnston, ‘The Wolfman’ reimagines the classic Universal monster tale as an atmospheric period horror. Benicio del Toro stars alongside Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, and Hugo Weaving. Produced by Universal Pictures, the film combines practical creature effects with digital enhancements, including notable makeup work overseen by Rick Baker. The story traces a tragic homecoming that triggers investigations into savage attacks and a family curse.

‘Happy Feet’ (2006)

‘Happy Feet’ comes from director George Miller and tells the story of Mumble, a young emperor penguin who expresses himself through dance rather than song. The voice cast features Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, and Robin Williams. Produced by Kennedy Miller Mitchell and Animal Logic, the film blends musical numbers with Antarctic wildlife world-building. It explores individuality and community norms within a colony that prizes perfect singing.

‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ (2017)

Matthew Vaughn directs ‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’, which reunites the Kingsman agents with the American Statesman organization after an attack on their London base. Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Julianne Moore, and Halle Berry headline the cast, with appearances by Channing Tatum and Jeff Bridges. Produced by Marv and released by 20th Century Fox, the sequel continues the series’ gadget-heavy spy operations. The plot sends the team across continents to disrupt a cartel’s global leverage play.

‘The Polar Express’ (2004)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, ‘The Polar Express’ adapts Chris Van Allsburg’s picture book about a boy who boards a magical train bound for the North Pole. Tom Hanks performs multiple characters using then-pioneering performance-capture techniques. The film was produced by Castle Rock Entertainment, Shangri-La Entertainment, and ImageMovers, with animation work pushing digital human modeling forward. Its journey framework ties individual vignettes on the train to themes of belief and wonder.

‘Weapons’ (2025)

‘Weapons’ is a New Line Cinema horror feature written and directed by Zach Cregger. The cast includes Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, and Austin Abrams. Structured around intersecting stories, the film tracks a series of unsettling events that ripple through a suburban community. Its narrative uses shifting perspectives and linked incidents to unfold a larger mystery piece by piece.

‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ (1989)

‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ follows the Griswold family’s attempt at an ideal holiday that spirals into mishaps at every turn. Jeremiah S. Chechik directs from a screenplay by John Hughes, with Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo returning as Clark and Ellen. Warner Bros. released the comedy, which also features Randy Quaid and Juliette Lewis. The film zeroes in on home improvements, extended-family visits, and neighborhood one-upmanship during the festive season.

‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ (2024)

Wes Ball directs ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’, set generations after Caesar as new ape societies rise and humans struggle for survival. The ensemble includes Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, and Peter Macon. Produced by 20th Century Studios, the film expands the franchise’s timeline with new clans, customs, and technology scavenged from the old world. Its plot tracks a young hunter’s journey across contested territories and the rediscovery of long-buried histories.

‘Elf’ (2003)

Directed by Jon Favreau, ‘Elf’ centers on Buddy, a human raised at the North Pole who travels to New York City to find his biological father. Will Ferrell leads the cast alongside Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, and Bob Newhart. New Line Cinema produced the family comedy, which became a perennial holiday favorite across TV and streaming. The story blends fish-out-of-water antics with a sincere search for family connection in a bustling city backdrop.

‘Materialists’ (2025)

Written and directed by Celine Song, ‘Materialists’ follows a New York matchmaker whose carefully curated life wobbles when she’s pulled between a charismatic millionaire and her actor ex. The film stars Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, with supporting turns from Zoe Winters and Marin Ireland. It’s produced by Killer Films and 2AM, with A24 handling U.S. distribution. Set amid high-end dating services and luxe Manhattan circles, the story leans into the logistics and consequences of modern matchmaking.

What did you watch from this list on Max, and which one should everyone else press play on next—drop your picks in the comments!